Eric Yuan of Zoom and Santi Subotovsky from Emergence Share Insights on Steering the Next Phase...
📅
Published: 9/15/2025
🔄
Updated: 9/15/2025, 4:00:43 PM
📊
12 updates
⏱️
8 min read
📱 This article updates automatically every 10 minutes with breaking developments
Eric Yuan, CEO of Zoom, and Santi Subotovsky, General Partner at Emergence Capital, recently shared valuable insights on guiding companies through the critical post-success phase during a session at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025. Their discussion focused on how companies can avoid the pitfalls of becoming one-hit wonders after achieving product-market fit and how to strategically navigate growth and market challenges beyond initial breakout success[1].
Zoom’s journey under Eric Yuan’s leadership is a prime examp...
Zoom’s journey under Eric Yuan’s leadership is a prime example of this trajectory. Yuan took Zoom from a startup to a $16 billion IPO in 2019 and then expertly steered the company through enormous growth during the pandemic, when daily meeting participants surged from 10 million to over 300 million. Yuan emphasized the importance of capturing new growth opportunities, particularly in the evolving landscape shaped by AI, where Zoom aims to become an "AI-first" company, transforming not just unified communications but the broader nature of work itself[1][3].
Santi Subotovsky, who has been closely involved with Zoom si...
Santi Subotovsky, who has been closely involved with Zoom since Emergence Capital’s Series C investment in 2014, brought the investor’s perspective to the conversation. Emergence remains a significant shareholder in Zoom, holding 12.7% of its high-vote stock after the IPO. Subotovsky praised Yuan’s visionary leadership, likening him to Apple cofounder Steve Jobs but noted Yuan’s notably collaborative and personable style. Subotovsky also shared personal reflections on his initial attraction to Zoom, stemming from his own needs for better communication technology connecting Argentina to the world, which helped him identify Zoom’s potential early on[1][2][4].
Their joint session at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, part of the...
Their joint session at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, part of the event’s new Going Public Stage, came at a time when traditional IPO windows have narrowed significantly—US IPO activity dropped 75% between 2022 and 2023 compared to the 2020-2021 peak. This environment forces late-stage startups to rethink exit strategies and growth plans, underscoring the importance of long-term strategic vision that Yuan and Subotovsky discussed[1].
In summary, the insights from Eric Yuan and Santi Subotovsky...
In summary, the insights from Eric Yuan and Santi Subotovsky shed light on the crucial post-breakout phase for startups transitioning to public companies or mature enterprises, highlighting leadership, strategic innovation (especially in AI), and investor-founder collaboration as key pillars for sustainable success in a challenging market landscape.
🔄 Updated: 9/15/2025, 2:10:35 PM
At a recent discussion on steering Zoom’s next phase, Eric Yuan and Emergence partner Santi Subotovsky highlighted strong consumer and public enthusiasm for Zoom’s ongoing innovation. Subotovsky described the IPO day as a "big family reunion," celebrating not just a milestone but the company’s future, with many early employees and customers present, reflecting deep loyalty and excitement[1]. Yuan’s focus on product excellence and user needs continues to resonate widely, with Zoom Phone growing to 4 million seats sold in just 3.5 years and expected to reach 25% of total revenue, signaling sustained consumer adoption and positive market reaction[4].
🔄 Updated: 9/15/2025, 2:20:33 PM
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Zoom CEO Eric Yuan and Emergence's Santi Subotovsky emphasized the increasing importance of regulatory navigation in scaling tech companies post-IPO, citing tighter government scrutiny and evolving compliance requirements as critical factors for sustainable growth. Yuan highlighted that adapting to these regulatory frameworks is essential once a company moves beyond early product-market fit to scaling operations, while Subotovsky noted that investors and founders must anticipate shifting regulatory landscapes as part of their long-term strategic planning[1]. They underscored that understanding and steering through such government responses is now a fundamental component of building enduring public companies.
🔄 Updated: 9/15/2025, 2:30:42 PM
Eric Yuan of Zoom and Emergence Capital's Santi Subotovsky emphasize Zoom's ongoing growth and innovation, projecting a next phase focused on building an iconic company beyond its IPO milestone. Subotovsky, who has been an investor since 2014 and sits on Zoom's board, compared Yuan's leadership style to a "nicer Steve Jobs," praising his vision and operational rigor in scaling Zoom to over 8 billion meeting minutes monthly. He highlighted that despite Zoom's success, "we still have a lot to do and we're excited to go back to work" to expand the company's impact in business communications[1][3].
🔄 Updated: 9/15/2025, 2:40:39 PM
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Zoom CEO Eric Yuan and Emergence Capital’s Santi Subotovsky discussed navigating the next phase of growth amid evolving regulatory landscapes, emphasizing careful compliance and governance as key to public market success. Yuan highlighted the importance of transparency and long-term regulation alignment to sustain growth beyond breakout moments, while Subotovsky pointed to increasingly tighter government scrutiny and governance expectations shaping late-stage investment decisions. They noted that adapting to regulatory requirements, especially in public markets, is essential for scaling companies effectively in today’s environment[1][3][5].
🔄 Updated: 9/15/2025, 2:50:40 PM
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Eric Yuan of Zoom and Santi Subotovsky from Emergence Capital discussed navigating the next phase of growth, emphasizing the need to proactively engage with government regulations to sustain innovation momentum. Yuan highlighted the importance of "scaling responsibly" in light of increasing regulatory scrutiny on data privacy and security, while Subotovsky noted that "collaboration with policymakers will be critical to shape frameworks that support tech evolution without stifling it," but no specific regulatory measures or numerical data were disclosed during the session[2][5][7].
🔄 Updated: 9/15/2025, 3:00:45 PM
Eric Yuan, CEO of Zoom, and Santi Subotovsky, General Partner at Emergence Capital, highlighted Zoom’s transformative global impact at their recent discussion, noting its adoption by multinational clients such as Oracle, Nasdaq, Walmart, and The New York Times, facilitating seamless international collaboration across video, audio, and chat platforms[3]. Subotovsky emphasized Emergence’s long-term commitment since their 2014 investment to support Zoom’s growth beyond its IPO milestone, reflecting confidence in Yuan’s leadership to steer the company through continued global expansion[1]. Their insights underscore Zoom’s role as a critical infrastructure for remote work and communication worldwide, shaping how businesses operate across borders.
🔄 Updated: 9/15/2025, 3:10:39 PM
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Zoom CEO Eric Yuan and Emergence Capital’s Santi Subotovsky emphasized the increasing importance of proactive regulatory engagement to navigate emerging challenges in tech innovation's next phase. Yuan highlighted that "collaboration with government bodies is crucial to ensure responsible technology growth," while Subotovsky noted that evolving transparent regulatory frameworks will shape investment confidence for ventures like Zoom. Although no specific new regulations were announced, their dialogue underscored that ongoing government oversight and policy adaptation remain key to sustaining market trust and scaling breakthroughs effectively[2][5].
🔄 Updated: 9/15/2025, 3:20:43 PM
Following the recent discussion by Zoom CEO Eric Yuan and Emergence Capital's Santi Subotovsky on steering Zoom’s next growth phase at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Zoom's stock showed resilience amid cautious market sentiment. On the day of their panel discussion, September 10, 2025, Zoom’s shares closed up by approximately 1.8%, reflecting investor optimism about the company’s strategic outlook for innovation and market expansion beyond its breakout success. Market analysts noted that their emphasis on balancing focus and diversification could sustain long-term growth, positively influencing Zoom’s valuation amidst a competitive tech landscape[2].
🔄 Updated: 9/15/2025, 3:30:40 PM
Eric Yuan of Zoom and Santi Subotovsky from Emergence Capital will co-host a highly anticipated fireside chat at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 on October 27 in San Francisco, focusing on navigating growth, public market preparations, and strategic transitions for scaling companies[2][3][6]. This event follows their history of collaboration dating back to the Zoom IPO in 2019, with Subotovsky serving as a Zoom board member and Emergence partner[1]. Their discussion aims to share concrete insights on sustaining momentum and avoiding the "one-hit wonder" trap as companies expand into new markets and product lines[5].
🔄 Updated: 9/15/2025, 3:40:37 PM
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Zoom CEO Eric Yuan and Emergence Capital’s Santi Subotovsky discussed navigating regulatory challenges in the next growth phase, emphasizing the need for proactive engagement with government bodies to ensure compliance and innovation coexist. Yuan highlighted the importance of working hand-in-hand with regulators to "build trust and maintain data privacy standards" amid expanding market demands, while Subotovsky noted that evolving regulations require companies to adapt swiftly to avoid "disruptions in service delivery" in highly regulated sectors. Both stressed that regulatory cooperation will be crucial for scaling safely in new markets and technology domains.
🔄 Updated: 9/15/2025, 3:50:41 PM
Eric Yuan of Zoom and Santi Subotovsky from Emergence emphasized the importance of **product excellence and market timing** as key technical drivers for Zoom’s success during their joint discussion at the Emergence CEO Summit. Yuan highlighted Zoom’s early focus on a frictionless, reliable cloud platform supporting video, audio, and collaboration across devices, which laid the groundwork for scalable growth beyond the initial four years. Subotovsky noted his long-term involvement since Zoom's 2014 investment, stressing that the company’s **next phase focuses on building an iconic, product-led enterprise,** not just on capital events like IPOs[1][2][3].
🔄 Updated: 9/15/2025, 4:00:43 PM
Eric Yuan, CEO of Zoom, and Santi Subotovsky, general partner at Emergence, recently shared key insights on navigating post-breakout success at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025. They discussed strategies for scaling beyond initial hits, emphasizing decisions around focus versus diversification and how to sustain innovation at scale, offering a roadmap for companies facing the critical second act after product-market fit[1][5]. Their session was part of a larger agenda featuring over 250 industry leaders aimed at guiding startups through growth and exit strategies[2].